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Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall pays Farmer Kev a visit to get the low-down on what to look for when it comes to sourcing organic fruit and veggies.

Delicious fruit and veg - there’s nothing like it. And there’s nothing like getting it fresh from the farm gate.

If you’re lucky enough to get it from a bloke like Farmer Kev, an organic grower on the NSW South Coast, he’ll give you the good oil on what to look out for as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall discovered when he paid him a visit.

Farmer Kev grows an abundance of organic veg on his farm. Hugh came away with a box full on his journey to River Cottage Australia. He also learnt a few things as well,

The migration of Italians into Australia in the middle of the 20th century brought the zucchini, which has become a staple in almost every household in the country. Zucchini’s don’t just come in green, they’re also yellow and sometimes orange, and are harvested in the summer time. You can also eat sugar peas pod and all, and butter beans start out green and go yellow as they ripen.

· Pesticide Free - Organic fruit and vegetables are pesticide free. This means you won’t be consuming the harmful chemicals used by conventional farming to stop plant pests and disease.

· No Chemical Fertisilisers - Organically grown produce doesn’t use chemical fertilisers. Instead, natural fertilisers are used such as composts of cow, chicken, horse and sheep manures as well as household composts using paper, garden clippings and kitchen waste.

· More Flavour - They’re a lot more nutritious and flavoursome because the soil they’ve been grown in isn’t compromised by chemical fertilisers. A lot of chefs prefer to use tastier organic produce because it’s planted and harvested seasonally unlike commercial growers who pick the fruit and veg earlier in order to get it the market in good condition. This doesn’t allow the development of natural minerals usually present at the mature green stage.

· Conserve the Environment - Buying or growing organic is better for the environment. No insecticides, herbicides, fungicides or artificial fertilisers, which mean no fossil fuels, no harmful run off into waterways that would otherwise affect natural wildlife.